The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers' Game 4 of the National League Division Series ended in one of the most brutal ways possible on Thursday night.
Both teams pitchers went punch for punch into the 11th inning when the game was tied, 1-1, and the Dodgers had runners on the corners with two outs.
Andy Pages hit a bouncer back to the pitcher, Orion Kerkering, and he couldn't field it cleanly and that's when panic set in. Kerkering threw an errand throw home and the Dodgers walked off with the win, advancing to the NLCS.
Adam Wainwright Reacts to Crazy NLDS Ending
After the game, many of Kerkering's teammates and his manager came over to console him. The young Phillies' reliever had been so good all year long, but you can never account for when panic sets in.
On Friday morning, World Series champion and retired pitcher Adam Wainwright took to social media to give his reaction to the brutal ending to the NLDS.
"OH MY GOODNESS! HE THROWS IT AWAY! AND THE DODGERS HAVE WON! THE DODGERS WIN, AND THEY ARE MOVING ON TO THE NLCS IN THE MOST IMPROBABLE FINISH! PANDEMONIUM AT DODGER STADIUM! AND YOUR HEART BREAKS FOR ORION KERKERING!"
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 10, 2025
Brian Anderson on the TBS call. ⚾️🎙️ #MLB pic.twitter.com/cCiHEFeEGD
"I woke up this morning still devastated for Orion Kerkering. But I’ll tell you what I did see: In a moment of total disbelief and heartbreak that their season ended so abruptly, catcher JT Realmuto consoling Orion. Nick Castellanos running in from right field to put his arms around Orion," Wainwright wrote on X. "Manager Rob Thomson waiting at the top step for his pitcher to hug him and remind him that he was loved. Sometimes we think so much about outcomes and performances that we forget that these are just people. With real emotions. And in that moment Orion had his team loving all over him because when you play with somebody for 162, plus spring training, plus playoffs… you become family.
"Were they sad they lost? Of course. But their heartbreak for Orion and support for him was clear and great to witness. In a moment of defeat and total shock, the Phillies showed true class and support for their young player who made a mistake."
The end of the @Phillies and @Dodgers game yesterday was hard to watch obviously because of how it ended. I woke up this morning still devastated for Orion Kerkering. But I’ll tell you what I did see: In a moment of total disbelief and heartbreak that their season ended so…
— Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) October 10, 2025
Wainwright's reaction speaks for many pure baseball fans across the country. It was a play that will be remembered forever, and there's nothing Kerkering can do now to erase it.
However, the response from his teammates and manager showed the human aspect of sports. The Phillies would not have been in that spot in the postseason if it weren't for Kerkering's contributions throughout the year, and they certainly had opportunities in that game to put more runs on the bard.
Regardless, the Phillies' season is now over, and it begins an offseason with many decisions to be made.